Relationship Between Serum Chromium Concentrations and Glucose Utilization in Normal and Infected Subjects

Studies in healthy individuals demonstrate that serum chromium concentrations fall precipitously following the intravenous administration of a 30-gm. glucose load. Significant decreases from baseline control fasting serum Cr concentrations were also observed when intravenous glucose was given during sandfly fever. Glucose disappearance rates also decreased significantly to approximately one half of pre-illness control values while serum Cr values declined still further. In addition, serum Cr disappearance rates could be calculated. When individual preexposure and postexposure serum glucose and Cr disappearance rates were compared, a significant linear correlation was found (P <0.05). Acute infection appears to reduce the availability of circulating Cr, which may contribute to the altered glucose metabolism characteristic of acute infections even in the presence of elevated insulin levels and other hormonal changes.